My sister is on the hunt for affordable vacation lodging this summer in/around Somerset, England, and asked me to put together a list of websites that could help.
Here’s my shortlist. But I’m sure you know lots more. So, come on, let’s get her a house!
VRBO.com (Vacation Rental by Owner)
Caretaker.org (Caretaker Gazette)
Homebase-Hols.com (Home Base Holidays)
Lonely Planet Thorn Tree Forum (House sitting & swaps)
Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".
Vacation in Maui: Surf, Yoga, Wellness with your VALENTINE
Another Valentine’s Day and with a busy year and a lot going on, it’s sometimes easy to forget the ones that we love the most. Isn’t it? Tired of the same old chocolates and roses? Looking for something that is REALLY special for your girlfriend, fiancee, wife or husband this year. It’s called SwellCo-ed and it’s located on the romantic island of Maui.
Looking for the antidote for leaving it all behind to rejuvenate for a week with your partner? A chance for you and your partner to get healthy and fit together? How does improving your well-being while bonding with your partner sound?
Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".
THE REAL THING AT THE MERRION
The Merrion in Dublin is the perfect backdrop for all things romantic in the heart of a city where none other than St. Valentine found his final resting place. Created within four Georgian townhouses, one of which was the birthplace of the Duke of Wellington, The Merrion has intimate drawing rooms, working fireplaces, a very private 18th-century style garden, an extensive art collection and a two-Michelin star restaurant. Three weekend escapes lead the way to romance:
Real Love: Looking to rekindle that flame? The Merrion has partnered with The Gate Theatre to offer guests the best seats in the house for the forthcoming production The Real Thing - “a play which reminds you why you go to the theater and why you fall in love, and why, just sometimes, it is all worth the effort.” The Real Thing was written by Tom Stoppard, one of the giants of modern playwriting. His razor-sharp wit burns with passion in this tender and poignant semi-autobiographical play of marital manoeuvring and the mysteries of love, commitment and authenticity. Real Love at The Merrion includes two tickets to see the production, overnight accommodation, full Irish breakfast in bed, a bottle of chilled rosé champagne, Valentine’s chocolates and a Champagne Afternoon Tea served in one of The Merrion’s log fired, cozy Drawing Rooms. Available from February 13 to 15, 2009 and priced at €515 (approximately $714), per couple, per night.
Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".
With the warmer weather quickly approaching, The Fairmont Washington, D.C. is ushering in spring with its signature Cherry Blossom Package.
Available from March 25 through April 30, 2009, the Cherry Blossom Package offers overnight accommodations for two in a luxurious guestroom, complimentary valet parking and a box of assorted note cards featuring scenes of the capital’s monuments and Cherry Blossoms by celebrated Washington, D.C. photographer Jake McGuire.
A remarkable piece of D.C. history, the National Cherry Blossom Festival®, highlights the annual blooming of the thousands of cherry trees along the Tidal Basin and elsewhere in the Nation’s capital. The 2009 Festival will celebrate the 97th anniversary of 3,000 Yoshino cherry trees presented by the Mayor of Tokyo to the City of Washington as a “memorial of national friendship between the United States and Japan.” This year’s National Cherry Blossom Festival® will be held Saturday, March 28 through Sunday, April 12, 2009.
Rates for the Cherry Blossom Package start at $189 per night based on double occupancy and availability. This package is not applicable to group bookings of ten or more, nor able to be combined with other promotions or special rates. Rates do not include tax or gratuities. For reservations, please call 202-429-2400 or toll free at 1-800-441-1414 or visit www.Fairmont.com/washington
Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".
And The Winners Are…
American Historic Inns, Inc. (AHI), publisher of more than 2.7 million guidebooks and parent company to iLoveInns.com, an award-winning Web site, has announced the 2009 Top 10 Romantic Inns.
Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".
LOVE IS IN THE AIR AND ALL AROUND AT PAN PACIFIC HOTEL SEATTLE
Cupid draws back his bow with two romantic overnight package options this Valentine’s Day at the luxurious Pan Pacific Hotel Seattle. Treat your sweetheart to the Love is in the Air or the Take Your Love to New Heights packages, both include accommodations for two along with many other amenities sure to set hearts afire this February.
The Love is in the Air package includes overnight accommodations in a Premiere guestroom with rose petals strewn on the bed, a welcome amenity of a bottle of Champagne and the sumptuous Aphrodisiac Collection by Theo Chocolates, a couples massage in Vida Spa’s private room with a complimentary candle to take home as a keepsake, overnight valet parking and of course, breakfast in bed for two to end a blissful night of romance. Package rates begin at $399 and are based on availability.
The Take Your Love to New Heights package takes love to a new level as the couple is whisked off in a Kenmore Air plane from South Lake Union for a scenic tour of the city. The return to the hotel lands the couple in the ultimate Denny Suite with panoramic views of the city and the iconic Space Needle, a King-size bed strewn with rose petals, overnight valet parking and breakfast for two in bed the following morning. This ultimate package would not be complete without the definitive piece of jewelry that says “I love you,” from Cartier, the signature platinum Love® bracelet for her. Package rates begin at $5,599 and are based on availability.
Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".